Topical Bible: Holy of Holies: The High Priest: Offered Incense In

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Holy of Holies, also known as the Most Holy Place, is the innermost and most sacred area of the ancient Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem. It was the earthly dwelling place of the presence of God, symbolized by the Ark of the Covenant. Access to this sacred space was highly restricted, emphasizing the holiness and separateness of God from sinful humanity.

Biblical Description and Significance

The Holy of Holies was separated from the rest of the Tabernacle or Temple by a veil, as described in Exodus 26:33: "Hang the veil from the clasps, and place the Ark of the Testimony behind the veil. The veil will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place." This veil symbolized the barrier between God and man due to sin.

The Role of the High Priest

The High Priest held a unique and significant role in the religious life of Israel, serving as the mediator between God and the people. Only the High Priest was permitted to enter the Holy of Holies, and this occurred only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Leviticus 16:2-3 provides instructions for this sacred duty: "The LORD said to Moses: 'Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the veil, in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat. This is how Aaron is to enter the sanctuary area: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.'"

Offering of Incense

One of the key rituals performed by the High Priest in the Holy of Holies was the offering of incense. This act was a vital part of the atonement process, symbolizing the prayers of the people ascending to God and the covering of their sins. Leviticus 16:12-13 details this ritual: "He is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense, and bring them inside the veil. He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the cloud of incense will cover the mercy seat above the Testimony, so that he will not die."

The incense created a cloud that covered the mercy seat, the lid of the Ark of the Covenant, where the presence of God was believed to dwell. This act of offering incense was not only a form of worship but also a protective measure for the High Priest, shielding him from the direct presence of God, which no man could see and live.

Theological Implications

The offering of incense by the High Priest in the Holy of Holies underscores the gravity of sin and the necessity of atonement. It highlights the holiness of God and the need for a mediator to bridge the gap between God and humanity. This ritual foreshadows the ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ, who, according to Hebrews 9:11-12, entered the greater and more perfect tabernacle in heaven, offering His own blood for eternal redemption: "But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with hands, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption."

The Holy of Holies and the rituals performed within it serve as a profound reminder of the holiness of God, the seriousness of sin, and the necessity of a perfect mediator, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 16:12
And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Earthquake.
... to the bottom with a fearful sound, and exposing the Holy of Holies uncovered to ...
of the other prophets.12 The two sons of the High Priest Simon, surnamed ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xlvi the earthquake.htm

Now it came to Pass, when She was Fourteen Years Old...
... And the rods having been handed over to the high priest, he offered a sacrifice
to ... the Lord said to him: Put all their rods into the holy of holies of God ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of pseudo-matthew/chapter 8 now it came.htm

Whether Sufficient Reason Can be Assigned for the Ceremonies ...
... To the latter state Christ brought us; and this was signified by the
high-priest entering alone, once a year, into the Holy of Holies. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether sufficient reason can be.htm

Christ's Priestly Office
... Christ our high priest exactly answered to this type. ... and he is gone up into heaven,
which answers to the priest's going into the holy of holies; and he ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/4 christs priestly office.htm

The Copies of Things in the Heavens
... 3 was that which hung between the holy of holies and the ... leads into 'the secret place
of the Most High.' The yearly ... as the priest looked to the most holy place ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the copies of things in.htm

The Child Samuel.
... woven in colours of blue, purple, and scarlet, and a high roof covered ... of purple,
scarlet, and gold hung down inside, dividing off the Holy of Holies at the ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/the child samuel.htm

The Intercession of Christ
... the heavens, entered into the holy of holies with His ... relieved by the thought that
Jesus, the High Priest, bears the iniquity of our holy things, perfumes ...
/.../newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xlvii the intercession of.htm

Marriage of the Blessed virgin to Joseph
... very aged priest, who could no longer walk (it was doubtless the high priest), was
carried on a chair by others before the Holy of Holies, and that ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/vii marriage of the blessed.htm

Book iv. --Of Marcion's Antitheses.
... Were called "Holies of holies." Stationed there. ... Denotes the heaven on high, whither
ascend. 240 Prayers holy, sent up without crime: the Lord. ...
/.../book iv of marcions antitheses.htm

Scriptural Types.
... In respect to the holy of holies, we have the express statement of inspiration:
"But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxvii scriptural types.htm